Merchandise-display case.



No. 801,811. PATENTED O GT. 10, 1905. W. L. POPE.

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CASE.

APiLIoATIoN FILED JAN. s. laos.

"N ITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM L. POPE, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGENE S. POPE, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

MERCHANDISE -DISPLAY CASE.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed January 3, 1905. Serial No. 239.538.

To (LH whom it' may concern:

Be it known that LVILLIAM L. Porn, aeitizen of the United States, residing' at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l\/Ierchandise-Display Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to store-fixtures, and has for its object to produeeaconvenient and serviceable casein which hats, caps, and other merchandise may be displayed and kept free from dust. j

The nature of the invention will clearly appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end View, partly in section, of a case embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, showing details of the sash-guide and rod-support and contiguous parts. Fig. 4 is a similar View of one of the sash.

The device is designed for store service and to take the place of the shelving commonly employed for this purpose.

In the drawings, A designates the base portion, having a top B preferably broader than the case above, which will be described presently. The base is supposed to be of the same length as the case above, and both should be divided by partitions, which in either case need be little more than supports for parts above and guides for the parts sliding' between them-as, for example, the drawers C in the base and the sash in the case, as will be described later. Just below the top of the base is a sliding shelf D for convenience in handling or exhibiting merchandise.

Above the base is the case proper, comprising a back E, ends F, top G, and a skeleton front, the parts of which will be referred to by letter in their proper place. The case also includes supports for the merchandise, which in the ease of hats are preferably rods H extending the full length of the case, supports for said rods, and sash to close the openings in the skeleton front. These parts will now be more fully described in detail.

At intervals of any desired length are set partition-strips I, and to the backs of these and connected also with the back of the case are guide-strips J, which latter are grooved at l to take projecting rollers L near each upper corner of the sash M. The vertical strips I are connected by horizontal sash-sill strips N, which should be beveled on the upper side, so as to serve as back-stops for the sash at the bottom and make neat joints therewith. Just back of each end of the sash when in closed position is a stop O, preferably faced with felt P or the like to make a dust-tight joint and prevent noise. Flush with this stop along the guide-strip is a cleat Q, serving as a support for the end of the sash when raised and slid back, as shown in Fig. l. This cleat may be partially cut away on the side next the guide-strip and antifriction-rollers R mounted in the open spaces, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the sash will run back and forth very easily. The outer end of the groove K forms a stop for the roller L, and on reaching this point the sash is tipped up or down, as may be desired and in a familial' way.

The rods rest in semicircular notches in the upper edges of the guide-strips and may be as many or few as circumstances require. For a single row of hats two rods are suflicient, as shown just -above the base-top in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the rods are placed some distance above the upper line of the sash, so that the dip of the hat-brims does not interfere with its movement back and forth. The skeleton partitions give the greatest possible capacity to the case and permit the salesman to reach through from one compartment to another instead of raising another sash, which is sometimes quite a convenience.

In practice the sash are preferably glazed for the display of the contents of the case. Such need not necessarily be the case, however, a closed sash in the nature of a panel serving for some classes of merchandise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A display-case havingaclosed back, ends and top, and divided into sections or compartments by skeleton vertical and horizontal partitions, sash fitted to said compartments, and provided with guide-rollers near each upper corner, grooved guide-strips therefor with notches in the upper edges to form seats for supporting-rods, longitudinal rods running the full length of the case and resting on said guide-strips, lateral cleats near the bottom of rods resting in said notches, and extending the full length of the case, roller-supports for the sash in sliding in and out, and cushioned I5 stops therefor when in closed position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. POPE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE S. POPE, J. M. ST. JOHN. 

